Illegal support center for the poor in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) – From information reported by people via the hotline, Nghe An Newspaper verified that the organization operating at the headquarters of Phong Toan Cooperative is indeed the Center for Supporting the Poor in New Rural Development, with Mr. Tran Duc Trung as Chairman of the Board of Members. Operating as a credit organization with a multi-level marketing method, and not yet permitted by the competent authority…

Ambiguous "support" for the poor?

On the morning of November 19, 2015, in the role of a poor farmer in the suburbs, we accidentally learned that Phong Toan Cooperative had a program called Vietnam Heart connecting the community of the Center for supporting the poor in developing new rural areas, so we stopped by to find out. We were warmly welcomed by members of this organization.

One of the group, named Hoang Khac Lai, spoke warmly: Where are you from? Did a member introduce you or did you come here yourself? We replied: “I heard there is a great program to support the poor, so I came to find out.” “Then please look at some pictures and documents related to the formation of the Center,” said Mr. Hoang Khac Lai, pulling the guests into a room filled with pictures, documents, and open letters.

There is an open letter from Professor, Hero of Labor Vu Khieu, several senior leaders; some documents from the Vietnam Farmers' Association, Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee... with the content of supporting the Vietnam Heart Program connecting the community. Looking at these documents, it is confirmed that the Center for Supporting the Poor in New Rural Development is chaired by Mr. Tran Duc Trung (whose press card was recently revoked by the Ministry of Information and Communications).

Seeing the guests’ interest, Mr. Lai continued to play the video to introduce the Center’s launching ceremony, which was broadcast live on VTV5. And he whispered: “This is an opportunity for the poor, sir. Participating in this program will receive great support!”

Q: What should I do if I want to join the program?

- The program is not for sale. If you want support, you must first support the program.

- How much support?

- First meal 1,200,000 VND, from second meal onwards 900,000 VND.

- How much is the support amount?

- 5 million 700,000 VND but divided into 19 months. In which, the first month is 100,000 VND, the second month is 300,000 VND, the third month is 500,000 VND, the remaining 16 months will receive 300,000 VND. The support amount will be paid on the 15th to 20th of each month. If you do not spend the support amount of 900,000 VND in the first 3 months, you can participate in a second portion. If so, from the 4th to the 6th month, the center will support a total of 1,800,000 VND. If you do not use the money, you can continue to support and receive support from the center. The same goes for the following months... In short, poor people participating in the program have the opportunity to get rich very quickly!

The information provided by the support center drawn up by Mr. Hoang Khac Lai explains about the “opportunity to get rich”.

- How many people in Nghe An participated in the program?

- About 1,000 people.

- If I can persuade others to join, will I get a reward?

- Each additional person will be rewarded 500 thousand dong.

- Will I get a membership card when I join?

- No. Only the voluntary donation form to support the fund for the poor in rural development has the red seal of the Center...

Returning in the afternoon of the same day, I met Mr. Hoang Khac Lai and asked: “I have enough money to participate in 10 sessions, but my children said that they saw online that this Center has a Mr. Trung who is having problems with the law. So I want to ask you if it will affect the participants? Mr. Lai replied: “It’s nothing. It’s because Mr. Trung’s press card expired, so they took it back. Besides, this is a state-owned company, whoever makes a mistake will be responsible. It will absolutely not affect the company…”.

Illegal activity!

Based on information from a collaborator, on November 20, we had a meeting with the team leader of the Center for Supporting the Poor in New Rural Development. Before working, this person - named Ta Xuan Hanh - asked the reporter to present his press card, carefully examine both sides, then take a photo with his mobile phone, and said: "We must report to the center because the press and television have been reporting false information recently...".

Mr. Ta Xuan Hanh introduces the image of "helping the poor" of the center.

And like Mr. Hoang Nhu Lai, the group leader Ta Xuan Hanh talked endlessly about the unique opportunity for the poor to get rich that the Center is creating. At the same time, he said that he has been operating in Nghe An for about 3 months.

Expressing concern: Supporting an amount of 1.2 million but receiving support of up to 5.7 million, while the number of participants is unlimited, where does the center get the source to pay? Mr. Hanh replied that he did not know specifically about the source, only knew that it was guaranteed to be long-term, no matter how many people participate in the program, they will be accepted and receive support.

According to Mr. Hoang Khac Lai, the center is “state-owned”. But for Mr. Ta Xuan Hanh, the center is an international organization, currently with 4 ASEAN countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia as members. Mr. Hanh said: “Do you know why Ms. Le Hang (General Director of the Center for Supporting the Poor in New Rural Development – ​​PV) is called an ambassador? Because this is an international organization. I don’t know what the company’s resources are. I only know that they are endless…”.

Some members of the center at Phong Toan Cooperative headquarters.

Discussing that the activity of calling on the poor to “support” the center to receive “support” and inviting participants to receive rewards has similarities with multi-level credit activities, which must be permitted by competent authorities. Mr. Hanh changed his face to a serious expression and said that understanding like that is incorrect and that it is necessary to “listen with both ears”; at the same time, he affirmed that the center has full “legal corridor documents”. Leading the reporter to the cashier transaction room, pointing to the open letters of Professor Vu Khieu and some senior leaders, Mr. Hanh said: “These are the legal corridor documents of the center…”.

- To operate, must be permitted by local authorities?

- Before establishing branches in provinces and cities, the center sent documents to 63 provinces and cities, including Nghe An province.

- Sent to which provincial agency; has there been a response yet?

- I don't know that. Nghe An province received the document and must know how to do it...

- The center targets poor people in rural areas. Have you asked for the opinion of the Provincial Farmers' Association?

- We have registered with the Ha Huy Tap Ward Police (Vinh City). We have not yet been to any other agencies…

Audio of Mr. Ta Xuan Hanh answering reporters:

.

Contacting Mr. Nguyen Huu Nhi - Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, it was known that the Center's staff had contacted the Association, proposing to coordinate activities but the Association refused. Mr. Nguyen Huu Nhi said: Mr. Huong (Mr. Tran Van Huong, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association - PV) told them directly that the Provincial Farmers' Association did not agree...

Nghe An Newspaper will continue to inform about this issue.

Nhat Lan - Sy Lap